Students, 

Here is a website which provides you with the full text of Gilgamesh>

http://www.aina.org/books/eog/eog.pdf

Epic of Gilgamesh Questions

NAME:                                                                                   English 2, Period:       Date Given:

Frederick Douglass Academy                                                Mr. Walker   Date Due: FEB. 1. 2013

“The Epic of Gilgamesh”

A.    READ PAGES 799-826, then answer all the questions below.

B.    Answer using complete sentences that restate the questions.

C.    Use vocabulary from Unit 1 & 2 of your workbook. in your answers.  

D.   Think deeply about these answers because they will appear on your tests and projects.

E.    Write the section as a way to organize your answers. Do not copy the questions over.

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH - SECTION 1: THE COMING OF ENKIDU

1.     Define: endow, firmament, rampart, cornice, threshold, comely, contend, harlot, wanton, extol, jostle, throng,

meteor

2.     How would you describe Gilgamesh as a king and a person?

3.     Why is Enkidu a threat to the hunters at first?

4.     How is Enkidu transformed?

5.     What two objects (aka symbols) does Gilgamesh dream about? How does his mother interpret them?

6.     How does Enkidu become beneficial to the shepherds?

7.     Why does Enkidu fight Gilgamesh? Why do they end the fight embracing and laughing?

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH – SECTION II: THE FOREST JOURNEY

1.     Define: hubris, kid, scepter, league, ominous, immolation, summon

2.     Identify two reasons Gilgamesh wants to kill Humbaba.

3.     Why is Enkidu tentative to join Gilgamesh in battle? How does Gilgamesh convince him?

4.     Who is Shamash? Why does Gilgamesh offer him sacrifices? How does Shamash help Gilgamesh?

5.     Why do the people of Uruk and Ninsun trust Enkidu to protect Gilgamesh?

6.     How does Gilgamesh incite Humbaba’s anger? What happens to Gilgamesh at the gate of the forest?

7.     n’t Enkidu believe Humbaba’s promises to Gilgamesh?

8.     Text-to-Text Connections: Onondaga-Earth on Turtle’s Back and Babylonia-The Epic of Gilgamesh. What do both these stories reveal about how each culture views and values dreams and the dream world?

9.     Text-to-Self Connection: Would you follow Gilgamesh on this trip to kill Humbaba? Why or why not?  If you were Gilgamesh, would you ignore or heed the voice of Enkidu and Ninsun? Why or why not?

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH – SECTION III: ISHTAR & GILGAMESH

1.   Define: barley, granary, brazier, smolder, squall, garrison, abominable, halter, exacerbate, courtesan, lamentation

2.   Who is Ishtar and what does she want? Would you describe her as a ‘gold-digger’ or ambitious? Why? Why not?

3.   Why does Gilgamesh deny her proposal? How does Enkidu exacerbate Gilgamesh’s actions?

4.   Why does Enkidu curse the gate of the forest, the Trapper and the harlot? How does Shamash counteract this?

5.   How does the death of Enkidu affect Gilgamesh? Why is he so distraught over Enkidu’s death?

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH – SECTION IV: THE SEARCH FOR EVERLASTING LIFE

1.     Define: deluge, irony, felon, allot, bitumen, ferrule, decree,

2.     How does the death of Enkidu change Gilgamesh?

3.     Who is Utnapishtim and why does Gilgamesh seek him out?

4.     How does the Man-Scorpion serve as the first obstacle Gilgamesh faces on this quest?

5.     How is the title of the path, The Road of the Sun, an ironic name?

6.     How does the experience of walking on the path, The Road of the Sun, reflect Gilgamesh’s psychological and emotional state?

7.     How does Siduri attempt to deter Gilgamesh from his quest?

8.      What serious error does Gilgamesh make just before meeting Urshanabi?

9.     What is Urshanabi’s primary duty? What task does Urshanabi compel Gilgamesh to complete?

10.  How do you feel about Gilgamesh’s quest? Would you endorse him on this journey or not? Why?

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH – SECTION V: THE STORY OF THE FLOOD

1.     How is Utnapishtim’s story similar to the Babylonian origin narrative?

2.     How is his story similar to that of Noah from the Bible?

3.     Do you believe Ishtar and Enlil are remorseful for creating the flood?

4.     Why do you think Utnapishtim and his wife were chosen to become immortal? 

THE EPIC OF GILGAMESH: SECTION VI: THE RETURN

Define: haunch, irate, succor, fillet (hair), sluice, slough

1.     How does Utnapishtim test Gilgamesh? Why does he get irate? What is the moral of his test?

2.     Why do you think Gilgamesh sleeps so much?

3.     How does Utnapishtim’s wife persuade her husband to provide succor to Gilgamesh?

4.     How does the plant offer hope to Gilgamesh? Describe the actions he takes to derive the plant.

5.     What robs Gilgamesh of his victory? In what text has this symbolic animal appeared before?

6.     At the close of the story, why does Gilgamesh show Urshanabi the city of Uruk?

SOURCES OF THE EPIC Return to the front of the story and read pages 796-798. Now Answer:

1.     Whose library was found in Mesopotamia? What two works were found there?

2.     What did George Smith announce and why was it a major concern to scholars?

3.     When did Gilgamesh rule and what was he known for? Identify the two major events in his life.

4.     What made Gilgamesh unique? Why were his people dissatisfied with him?

5.     How is Enkidu domesticated?

6.     How is the bond between Gilgamesh and Enkidu an archetype?

7.     Create a T-chart of five (5) lines. Identify three differences between them.

8.     Why do they fight Humbaba? What does this fight symbolize?

9.     How is Gilgamesh’s rejection of Ishtar similar to Marduk and Tiamat’s war?

10.  How is Enkidu’s punishment similar to Prometheus’?

Analysis Questions. CHOOSE TWO TO ANSWER IN TWO PARAGRAPHS EACH OR MORE!

A.    What is the central lesson Gilgamesh is supposed to learn from Enkidu? In 3 paragraphs, explain how Enkidu’s presence in Gilgamesh’s life has affected him? What has Gilgamesh gained or lost since knowing Enkidu? Has it made him more or less human? more or less hubristic? How so? Is this an improvement in character for Gilgamesh?

B.    Reread “The Story of the Flood” and summarize in two paragraphs what happened to Utnapishtim. How did those events change his perspective on life?

C.    Compile a list of the major symbols in the story (ax, star, forest, serpent, bull, etc.). For each, explain what they symbolize and state clearly whether you think they are archetypes.

Remember Timbuktu & Gao

Students, please read the following article which records how one of the oldest African civilizations is being destroyed. The two major cities of the Mali kingdom, Gao and Timbuktu, are being bombed.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/13/us-mali-rebels-idUSBRE90912Q20130113